HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2014-0001TITLE:
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 01
Series of 2014
A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE AND THE
JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT R-1 FOR SCHOOL
RESOURCE OFFICER SERVICES
WHEREAS , pursuant to C.R.S . § 29-1-203, the City of Wheat Ridge ("City") and the
Jefferson County School District R-1 ("District") are authorized to enter into cooperative
agreements with other governmental entities to provide any function , service or facility each is
authorized to undertake; and
WHEREAS , the City is authorized to provide law enforcement services and the District is
authorized to provide public education services; and
WHEREAS , the C ity and the District each recognize the value in cooperating to
proactively provide a consistent and visible law enforcement presence in schools; and
WHEREAS , the parties have therefore developed a School Resource Officer Program
that places a uniformed police officer in certain District schools located within the City; and
WHEREAS , the parties have memorialized the terms of said School Resource Officer
Program in an intergovernmental agreement; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 14.2 of the City's Home Rule Charter, the City
Council wishes to approve said intergovernmental agreement by resolution .
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Wheat Ridge ,
Colorado, as follows :
THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER
SERVICES BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE AND THE JEFFERSON
COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT R-1, ATTACHED TO THIS RESOLUTION AND
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IS HEREBY APPROVED.
ATTEST:
JNTERGOVERNMENT AL AGREEMENT FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER SERVICES
This Intergovernmental Agreement for School Resource Officer Services (this "Agreement") is
made and entered into as of the 1st day of January, 2014 (the ''Effective Date"), by and between the
Jefferson County School District R-1 (the "District'') and the City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado (the "City").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the District. the City, and the community are impacted by the demands placed upon
them to address incidents and situations directly or indirectly related to juveniles and the schools ; and
WHEREAS , the problems of juvenile crime , drug abuse, gang involvement, and other youth-
related problems which negatively affect the community and the schools, can best be addressed in a
proactive and preventative manner; and
WHEREAS, the District and the Wheat Ridge Police Department (the ''Department") have
developed a School Resource Officer Program to provide a school-based approach to the development of
a positive relationship between students and law enforcement and the prevention of juvenile crime , drug
abuse and gang involvement by our community's young people; and
WHEREAS, such programs are recognized as being effective in the development of a positive
relationship between law enforcement agencies and young people, and in the prevention of juvenile
crime.
NOW , THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises set forth herein, the
District and the City agree as follows:
I. OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY AND THE
DEPARTMENT
a. The City, by and through the Department, agrees to provide the District with law enforcement
officers who shall act as School Resource Officers (SRO) at District schools located in the
City for the tenn of this Agreement. The number of SROs shall be agreed upon between the
Department and the District based on the communicated needs of the District and the ability
of the Department to provide staffing for SROs.
b. Adjustments outside these regular hours at a school may be made by mutual agreement
between the school administration and the Department.
c. SROs will be City employees recruited and employed by the City. The SROs ' salaries, payroll
taxes , payroll based expenses, including workers compensation insurance, and benefits are the
responsibility of, and will be paid exclusively by the City.
d. SRO's will report directly to the Department and will follow Department command structure.
e . The Department will provide SRO training as is required by state statute.
f. All scheduling, deployment and supervision of SROs will be the responsibility of the
Department.
g. The Department reserves the right to remove/re-assign any SRO as long as prior notification
is given to the District.
h. SROs will provide focused law enforcement services to students, staff, and the surrounding
community to include routine patrol , traffic enforcement, preliminary crime investigation and
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responding to calls for service, and the SRO's shall perform additional functions including but
not limited to the following:
l. Differentiate between djsciplinary issues and crime problems and respond appropriately.
2. De-escalate school-based inciden ts whenever possible.
3. Conduct and participate in the investigation of criminal offenses on campus.
4. Understand that the District has adopted a discipline code that emphasizes the use of
restorative approaches to address behaviors. and is designed to minimize the use of law
enforcement intervention.
5. Enhance school safety on school grounds to help foster a safe and secure learning
environment.
6. As partners with the District, when appr opri ate, SROs may assist with resolv ing law
e nforcement issues that affect the District and the broader commuruty.
7. Provide a positive liaison between the Department, the students, the school administration
and the Department of Security and Emergency Management.
8. Participate in meetings with school administration when requested by school
administration during the SRO's normal shift.
9. Officers making an arrest or writing a citation/summons to a student at school. at a school
event , or on a school vehicle shall notify the school principal or the principal" s designee in
a reasonable time period, not to exceed the mandates as set forth in state law.
I 0. Question students in a manner and a time when it has the least impact on the
student/suspect's schoo ling so long as the delay in questioning does not interfere with the
effectiveness of the investigation.
n. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION'S OBLIGATIONS
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
a. The District re serves the right to requ est the removal/re-assignment of any SRO for any
reasonabl e cau se the Di strict provides in writ in g to th e Department after o ther attempts to
correct the problem have been explored.
b. The District agrees to provide each School Resource Officer with work space and access to
computer systems whi le the School Resource Officer is present at District locations.
c. School Admini strati on will arrange meetings with the SRO as needed by the school
administration.
d. School Administration will de-escalate school-based incidents whenever possible and will
make every effort to handle routme d iscipl ine (code of conduct) withln the school without
in volv ing th e S R O in an enforcement capac ity (issu ing citations) unless it is absolutely
necessary or required by law.
e. The District and School Administration will cooperate with Department-initiated
investigations and actions without hindering or interfer ing with Department functions or
the assigned SRO's assigned duties.
f. Sc hoo l Administration will provide o ngoing feedback to the Department fo r evaluation
purposes.
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g. School Administration will notify parents as soon as possible when students are ticked or
arrested.
Ill. SCHEDUUNG
Each SRO shall be assigned to work at a specific school by the Department in collaboration
with the District. The Department will schedule the working hours of the SROs supporting
District schools taking into account the school year calendar of the District. The hours of SRO
availability will be during normal school hours while the school is in session. Assignments
will be communicated to the school Principal and Department of Security and Emergency
Management.
IV. PROGRAM DIRECTION
Each SRO shall be given the flexibility to be mobile and visible throughout the campus,
neighborhood or community as needs dictate. The SRO shall determine what physical location
is best to maintain officer safety and tactical advantage at aU times. The SRO shall not be
assigned duties that are the responsibility of the District or a school employee. SROs shall
have continuing authority to determine whenever a summons shall or shall not be issued or an
arrest made. The SRO may consult with the school principal to evaluate the implications,
impacts and alternatives, if any , regarding an incident o r event.
V. TERM
The term of this Agreement shall be for one {I ) year commencing on January l , 2014 . The
Agr eement shall automatically renew for consecutive one (1) year tem1s unless otherwise
terminated as set forth below.
VI. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by either party at any time by providing
thirty (30) days advance written notice to the other party.
VII. Relationship of the parties. Each party is an independent governmental entity and this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder shall not create between the parties a
relationship of agency, joint venture, partnership or employment. Each party acknowledges
that the performance of its obligations under this Agreement shall not result in any change in
the employment status of such party 's respective employees, and such party's employees shall
remain solely employees of such party. Further, the employees and agents of a party shall
only be entitled to salary , employment/unemployment benefits or other compensation from
that party.
VIII. No Third party Beneficiaries. There are no intended third-party beneficiaries to this
Agreement.
IX. Liability of the Parties. The provision of services under this Agreement is for the benefit of
the parties to the Agreement. Each party agrees to be responsible for its own liability incurred
as a result of its participation in this Agreement. In the event any claim is litigated , each party
will be responsible tor its own expenses of litigation or other costs associated with enforcing
this Agreement.
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X. Nonassignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned or delegated by a party without the
prior written consent of the other.
XI. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon , the
parties, and their respective legal representatives and successors.
XII. Notices. All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be deemed sufficient
when directly presented or sent pre-paid , first class United States Mail , addressed as follows:
Lfto THE CITY:
Dan Brennan. Chief of Police
Wheat Rid~e Police Department
7500 W 29 Avenue
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
with a copy to:
Wheat Ridge City Attorney
Murray Dahl Kuechenmeister & Renaud, LLP
1530 16th Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
If to THE DISTRICT:
John McDonald
Executive Director -Security and Emergency Management
Jeffco Public Schools
1829 Denver West Drive, Bldg. #27
Golden, Colorado 80401
with a copy to District's Chief Legal Officer (same address as above),
or to such other address or addresses as either party may designate in writing .
XIIT. Local Concern. The Parties agree and acknowledge that the activities contained in this
Agreement are matters of local concern only, and the Parties have mutually joined together for
the performance of the matters of local concern, and that nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed as matters of statewide concern.
XIV. Integr ation. This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between the Parties.
superseding all prior oral or written communications.
XV. Governing Law and Venue. Tius Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Colorado and any legal action concerning the provision hereof shall be brought in Jefferson
County , Colorado.
XVI. Review and Amendment. Each party to this Agreement reserves the right to review the
terms of this Agreement at any time. The City and the District agree to negotiate in good faith
to resolve any disputes regarding the terms of this Agreement or to review any changes
necessary to affect the purposes set forth herein. This Agreement may not be modified or
amended except in a writing signed by the parties.
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XVII. Coun terpa rts. This Agreement may be executed in counterpart, each of which will be
deemed an original. Deli very of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or
email transmission will con stitute effective and binding execution and delivery of this
Agreement.
XVl l l. S everability . [f any provision of this Agreement is fo und by a co urt of competent jurisdiction
to be unlawful or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions hereof shall remain
in full force and effect.
XIX. Immunities Preserved . It is the intention of the parties that this Agreement shall not be
construed as a contractual waiver of any immuni ties, defenses or monetary limitations
p rovided by the Colorado Governmental Immunities Act, §24-10-101, C .R.S, et. seq.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, t he Parties have caused tllis Intergovernmental Agreement for School
Resource Officer Services to be executed and effective as of the Effective Dat e.
ATTEST:
elle S haver, City Clerk Gerald E. Dahl , City Attorney
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JEFFE RSON COUNTY R-1 S CHOOLS
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The foregoi ng Agreement for School Resource Officer Services was acknowledged befo re me this
1 j H' day of I c..b . , 2014, as of JetTerson County R-1 Schools.
WITNESS my hand and offic ia l sea .
My Commission expi res: rc /L cl 1014
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